Freedom Festival 2008 Day 3

DENNY SIMMONS / Courier & Press Jean Theoret, the driver of U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing, pulls out of the fourth turn of the Thunder on the Ohio unlimited hydroplane final race on Sunday afternoon. Theoret won the event for the first time in his career, finishing with an average speed of 137.854 mph.

BOB GWALTNEY / Courier & Press In one of the tightest Thunder On The Ohio championship races three boats are still neck to neck as they finish the first lap of the Championship heat. From left are, Mike Allen in the U-7 Formula Boats, Steve David in the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto and the eventual winner Jean Theoret in the U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing.

Serge Giachetti / Courier & Press Jean Theoret celebrates his victory in the Thunder on the Ohio championship heat as he steps out of his boat onto the docks to the cheers of his crew on Sunday.

BOB GWALTNEY / Courier & Press Jean Theoret is jubilant as he returns the U-37 Miss Beacon Plumbing to the dock after winning Thunder On The Ohio Hydroplane championship Sunday, June 29, 2008 in Evansville, In.

BOB GWALTNEY / Courier & Press Jimmy King waves to fans on the shore as he is towed in after his Master Tire U3 hydroplane brakes down in Heat 1B of Thunder On The Ohio Sunday, June 29, 2008.

ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press Natalie Dillman, 2, looks through binoculars as planes fly by during Sunday afternoon's air show at the Freedom Festival at the Riverfront. "This whole fest is about us getting to honor our military," said Scott Hinton, festival president.

Nicholas Purdy, 5, top, and Jacob Purdy, 3, hide from their dad, Jeff Purdy, as they wait for the next heat of Thunder on the Ohio on Sunday afternoon.

DENNY SIMMONS / Courier & Press U-100 Mirageboats.com and U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto race in heat 3B under cloudy skies on Sunday. Wind created tough racing conditions for the racers at Thunder on the Ohio, but the rain stayed away from the annual event.

BOB GWALTNEY / Courier & Press The afterburners of a F-16 fighter jet glow as the Air Force pilot accelerates into a hard turn over the Ohio River at the Riverfront as part of the Freedom Festival on Sunday.

ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press The P-51 Viper West Heritage Flight flies over the Ohio River during the final air show of the day at the Freedom Festival in downtown Evansville.

ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press Jeremy Montgomery, 20 , and Stephanie Maloney, 19, relax in between heats of the Thunder on the Ohio races on Saturday morning at the Freedom Festival.

ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press Noah Rivera, 3, of Louisville, Ky., peers up from underneath an umbrella blocking him from the sun while relaxing on the sidewalk along the river at the Freedom festival. Rivera was there with his family watching the races.

ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press Eric Locker, center, let many of his intoxicated friends shave his head before the final Thunder on the Ohio championship race Sunday afternoon at the Freedom Festival. Locker and his friends spent the day partying down by the river watching the races.

ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press Bailey Southwell, 3, sits on the shoulders of her father, Brandon Southwell as she covers her ears during the Old National Bank air show on Sunday afternoon at the 30th annual Freedom Fest. This was Bailey's first time at the Festival.

ERIN McCRACKEN / Courier & Press Ashlynn Barnett, 4, and her twin Brooklynn Barnett play cards amongst foot traffic on the Riverfront while passing the time during the Freedom Festival on Sunday afternoon. The girls who were there with their mother and sister were not interested in the races but occupied themselves playing games.

Serge Giachetti / Courier & Press Jason Ford does a front hand spring over Trenton Christian's back to land on a slip and slide at the Freedom Festival on Riverside Drive on Saturday afternoon, June 28, 2008.

Serge Giachetti / Courier & Press Romand Brooks slides down a sip and slide mat with a turkey leg in his mouth at the Freedom Festival on Riverside Drive on Saturday afternoon, June 28, 2008. "This is for my myspace page!" yelled Brooks before his head first turkey leg slide.

BOB GWALTNEY / Courier & Press A Coast Guard rescue diver is up into a Coast Guard helicopter from the Ohio River at Evansville during a demonstration between heats as part of the Thunder On The Ohio Air Show on Sunday, June 29, 2008.

Serge Giachetti / Courier & Press David Beane proudly wears his collection of Thunder on the Ohio pins on his hat at the Freedom Festival on Riverside Dr. on Saturday afternoon, June 28, 2008. Beane has been to every Thunder on the Ohio since 1994.